Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-02-08
protective rarifls-DeGnition

Protective E2rLDS-DeHnAtIon.
/ 10 The editor Of The AIesaadria Gazette
The word tariH. is of Spanish origin, and
derives lis use from the name of town sit
uated at the entrance Of the Straits of Gil
braltar, called Tarjfa. st this place, duties
or customs we're formerly collected on goods
intended for sale and from this usage, the
word tariff came to be used as Synonymous
| with the words duties, customs and i'm
ports. therefore the word tariff means toll
or tax paid to q government for the privl-
lege Of bringing in and sending out goods to
be sold in q home or foreign market.
Tho origin OF tho necessity for tariff,
duties. customs and imports, on goods to be
sold within or without 9 country. was for
| the purpose Of raising money or revenue, TO
defray the expenses OF the government OF
such a country. Hence, q tariff is divided
| into ona Of two varieties, viz: a tariff for
revenue TO pay the just expenses OF gov
ernment, and tariff for protection OF the
manufactured articles Of a country against
the sale Of foreign goods IN such country.
& tariff foT revenue Is purely tor the welfare
OF the government making IL. a tariff for
protection, is to protect the manufacturer OF
one country against the competition in price
OF similar articles or goods produced or
manufactured in another country.
When one government fixes q tariff or tax
ca goods Of another country, at very high
rates of duty, imposts-0r customs, it ia called
high protective tariff; and this variety Of
tariff. in many instances, amounts to pro-
hibition of the sale within such country OF
such goods as are prejudjCed by high pro-
tective tariff.
The right Of 8 government to levy taxes,
or tariff, for the purpose Of righteous and
economical support, cannot be denied; but
when the legislative department OF q gov
| ernment undertakes 10 levy taxes and tar
| ifs, with the intention of protecting the bus
| ieess of one class Of its business population,
against, and at the expense, of another class
! Of its business population, it became mon
| strous and nefarious example OF class-legis-
| ation, and cannot, under any circumstances,
! be enforced without great injustice TO large
majority of the population. 1t Is snply
fraudulent combination Oft the legislative de-
partmeat Of q government with few man
! facturers, to enable them to flch from the
consumer part of his earnings 10 be paid
| to such manufacturers, as q sOyt Ut royalty
on their manufactured goods
Taking from the many 10 benefit the few
is not figure of speech when received in
| connection with the legislation on the SUBJ
ject OF = protective tariff. The specious
appeals Of cupdity and the cunnins designs
| OF the avaricious manufactures have so dis
torted, confused aud uttered the ninds of
the people on the subject, ibat the meaning
and intent of The word tariff, are almost be-
vond the comprehension and understanding
of the masses, while the pecuating charac-
ter Of the question bunts their
sensibiity, and leaves them almost
without conscience TO feel the
coyetous inequality Of the operations
Of an act OF Congress creating protective
tariff 4 man is almost lest to his pecunla-
ry welfare, when ne will, without the pro-
| test of hi5yote, allow 8 majority OF Congress,
to pass q law which takes at least twenty
FIVE per cent. of his hard earnings TO enrich
the sordid manufacturer, without the slight
| est or most distant prospect OF compensa-
| ton end in this way, protective tariff is
| nothing more than q legal license 10 piund-
| ar and rob the consumer to crafty the greed
Of the manufacturer.
A tariff OF goods for The purpose OF rels-
ing q revenue TO pay governmental expenses
! has degenerateG into vicious and corrupt
protective tarffin order at great expense to
the consumer, to put enormous profits into
| the pockets Of the manufacturer; and so
powerful have these business men grown,
whom protective tariff benefits. that they
have rot only the power to control the prices
of articles OF ordinary consumption, but
with the proves of imperial soverelgns,
can, and Go proclaim, months ia advance of
q demanC., what shall be the price of Such
articles.
A plundeyer must be allowed to pursue or
be assisted in pursuing his own plan of OBJ
tanning dishonest gains, or ne will desist for
fear OF detection and punishment 10 the at
tempt to get that which he does not honest.
ly earn In his pursuit of unjust gains the
beneficiary of the protective tariff has been
most openly and amply assisted, not only
bv all the power of q monied influence, but
by all the force OF cunning and dishonorable
Vaccinations, aided and confirmed by ma
| iority OF the votes, of members of Congress.
Ayarice will be always enthusiastic when
encouraged by the act of making money,
and it is easier 10 coax corlnorant from lts
meal than to expect the beneficiary OF pro.
tective tariff to cease his efforts to bribe and
deceive Congress, until the large consuming
class calls into legislative action represents
/ tiyes who will scorn class-legislation and re-
peal every law that prevents the consumer
from exercising the pecuniary right OF buy
ing articles where he can get them the
cheapest, whether of native or foreign man
ufacture. Most respectfully,
J. B. JOHNSON, NJ. D.
] Washington, D. G.
Z CxCorrOu yuoor 1-nrTrr c,T oJ7Fc f,Io+b f,lo1-av